There’s been a lot of criticism — including from el Rushbo and in my in-box — of “The Corner” and NRO in regard to this bailout/rescue mortgage meltdown. Enough people here believe that the president is more right than wrong in his solution that that is where we came down editorially. But that does not mean all NR/NRO writers and even editors speak with one voice on this. Like I pointed out Monday in a piece on another matter — the Palin controversy and the Left’s delight in highlighting right-wing concerns about her — we don’t suppress debate on NRO. “The Corner,” rather than being a mouthpiece for anyone, is a window into the editorial debates once had behind closed doors. Can this be a disservice to causes far and wide sometime? Yes. Should we hold back because it might hurt a candidate or cause? My reflex is: Be honest. And if one writer thinks the other is wrong, let’s have that debate.

On the bailout, my instinct is to recoil at what Paulson and now with Pelosi and Frank and co. have been working on. That said, I don’t have a better alternative than the Bush plan if meltdown is imminent. But one does wonder if that meltdown is really coming. And I am very relieved to know that the American people recoil at what looks a lot like socialism — Americans have good instincts about government, even as they worry about their money, jobs, homes. (And I might add, for better or for worse, while some here have been very critical of the House Republicans this week, I’ve been happy for their efforts, as I’ve been saying since last week, on the same grounds.)

As for us, we continue to be a part of this debate, in “The Corner” and throughout the website – see our editorial today on who’s to blame for this mess here, Jonah Goldberg on Democratic inaccountability, Mark Hemingway on shining light on Fannie and Freddie, Dan Mitchell knocking the bailout, Thomas Sowell, always Right, and much more. And then there is the print magazine. The issue going to bed right now says it all (and reflects my mood!) on its cover:

Adam Smith may tear at the current scene here, but America is a great country with fierce debate but great opportunity and people with sensible instincts, like … Sarah Palin. Here at NRO, we will continue to shed light on the good and the bad and the worrisome and the encouraging. Please bear with us when an item (or series of items) are downers or not what you’d say. I hope you agree with me it’s all typically worthwhile and good for us all.